Saturday, August 29, 2009

In Fairness

I've given Stevie a bit of ahardtime on these Senate appointments. But this Liberal line of attack rings fairly hollow:

"He is unequalled in Canadian history as the only prime minister to have made 27 Senate appointments in a single year and he beat (Conservative prime minister) Robert Borden who made 26 (in 1917)"

Harper has done exactly the same thing as every single Prime Minister that preceded him: He has filled Senate positions when they opened up. Yeah, yeah, he dithered about it at first, leading to a big total in 2009, but "Patronage King" is a bit rich, given the number of appointments Liberals have made over the years.

That said, to the Conservatives snickering about how the Liberals were no better, Paul Martin did appoint 4 Tories and 1 Dipper to the Senate.

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I would contend the official Liberal response is not only hypocritical itself (you shouldn't appoint Conservative Senators so that we can eventually appoint Liberal Senators) but also highlights why these appointments are necessary: to overcome the Liberal Party's attempts to thwart any meaningful reform of that august body, it is necessary to make these appointments.

Further, it is necessary that those appointed provide hope to those who want the Senate reformed, or even abolished.

For the record, the NDP historically did not accept Senate appointments, resulting in the party's relatively clumsy response when Lillian Dych decided she wanted to sit as a New Democrat. My sources suggest that actually came as a surprise to the Martin PMO, who had assumed she'd sit as a Liberal.

"It is my intention to have senators in there that will support the elected government and that will stop blocking our significant legislation, anti-crime legislation and legislation on democratic reform."

at what point is the media going to start exposing these obvious lies???

Sharon Carstairs on CBC's The House made some excellent points that if Harper really was serious about changing the senate, he should have be talking to the provinces about it, which clearly he never did in any serious way. His shame should be that he touted reform so loudly and then really, did nothing, and then, when he decided he had done enough of nothing, claim he had no other choice but to appoint senators. A sad excuse for leadership.

if Harper really was serious about changing the senate, he should have be talking to the provinces about it, which clearly he never did in any serious way. His shame should be that he touted reform so loudly and then really, did nothing, and then, when he decided he had done enough of nothing, claim he had no other choice but to appoint senators. A sad excuse for leadership.

The 4 Tories Martin appointed were Progressive Conservatives, not members of the CPC, and yes there is a difference. Ask Elaine McCoy who still doesn't sit as a member of this government's caucus. So no brownie points to PMPM on this one.